With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Santa Barbara is the perfect place to take advantage of solar electricity. Thankfully, Community Environmental Council(CEC) makes it incredibly easy to switch to solar, save money and green your living space.

Today marks the beginning of CEC’s three-month program, “Solarize Santa Barbara,” created to help bring solar electricity to homeowners by offering group discounts, knowledge of companies and general help through the whole switch.

Forty-nine community members took advantage of “Solarize Santa Barbara” in 2011, which offered a short-term discount program. Homeowners such as Chris and Stacey Ulep took advantage of CEC’s knowledge and opted for a leasing option for twenty years of solar electricity. Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf also received solar electricity in 2011, and has since seen a decrease in her electricity bill and a smaller carbon footprint.

Courtesy of SolarizeSB.org and Shawn Jacobson

Santa Barbara residents can take advantage of “Solarize Santa Barbara” for the next three months, with CEC helping every step of the way. They act as a liason between installers and consumers, help provide the best financial option for every household (leasing, buying, group-purchasing), simplify the contractor selection process and host introductory workshops on energy efficiency, conservation and solar energy.

Through this program, CEC hopes to increase awareness and availability of renewable energy throughout Santa Barbara, paving a way for a greener, more sustainable city.

The application process is easy and takes only five minutes, with responses within 48 hours. Don’t miss this hassle-free opportunity to reduce carbon footprints and decrease bills by going solar– it ends November 9th.

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Santa Barbara Seasons is a resource for locals and visitors alike with lush visuals, engaging features and invaluable information on events, fundraisers, retail and culinary happenings. Every issue includes handy maps, restaurant and winery listings and a guide to the county's top destinations. Be prepared to discover something new about the region as we cover businesses and projects off the beaten track as well as the classic favorites. To advertise or subscribe, contact the publisher at 805/564-8804 ext. 203 or Brian.Kramer@Sbseasons.com.